1965 in Singapore

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← 1964 1963 1962 1965 in Singapore → 1966 1967 1968
Decades:	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
See also:	Other events of 1965 Timeline of Singaporean history

Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall 1965

The following lists events that happened during 1965 in Singapore.

• Singapore was a part of the Federation of Malaysia until 9 August 1965.

Incumbents

• President: Yusof Ishak (starting 9 August)
• Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew (starting 9 August)

Events

January

• 6 January – The Orchard Theatre (present-day Cathay Cineleisure Orchard) was opened. ^[1]

March

• 10 March – Indonesian saboteurs carry out the MacDonald House bombing, killing 3 people. ^[2]

May

• 9 May – Lee Kuan Yew begins campaigning for a Malaysian Malaysia. It began with the formation of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention. ^{[3] [4]}

July

• 10 July – A by-election was held in Hong Lim after Ong Eng Guan of the United People's Party resigned. After the vote, Lee Khoon Choy from the People's Action Party was elected into Hong Lim constituency, defeating Ong Chang Sam of the Barisan Sosialis. ^[5]

August

• 7 August- The Independence of Singapore Agreement was signed by both Malaysia and Singapore
• 9 August –
  • The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia. ^[6]
  • On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established, as well as the Ministry of Interior and Defence. ^[7]
  • TV Singapura merges with Radio Singapura to form Radio and Television Singapore (RTS). ^[8]

September

• 21 September – Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member. ^[9]

October

• 15 October –
  • Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the Commonwealth. ^[10]
  • The Singapore Conference Hall is officially opened. ^[11]

November

• 27 November – Singapore's first underground carpark is officially opened in Raffles Place, with a public garden built on top. ^[12]

December

• 8 December – The first sitting of Parliament commenced. However, MPs from Barisan Sosialis boycotted the first session. ^{[13] [14]}
• 14–21 December – Singapore took part in the 3rd South East Asian Peninsular Games. It clinched the third place, accumulating a total of 76 medals.
• 22 December – Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Yusof bin Ishak becomes the first President of Singapore. ^[15]
• 23 December – The Singapore Army Act is passed, leading to the formation of the Singapore Army. ^[16]
• 30 December – The People's Defence Force Act was passed, leading to the formation of the People's Defence Force. This was done to build up the Singapore Army before the introduction of National Service. ^[17]

Births

• 12 January – Rayson Tan, actor.
• 5 February – Paul Tambyah, 7th Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party.
• 24 March
  • Gurmit Singh, actor.
  • Yee Jenn Jong, former Workers' Party NCMP.
• 27 March – Eric Khoo, filmmaker. ^[18]
• 28 March – Sylvia Lim, lawyer and 10th Chairwoman of Workers' Party.
• 19 July – Maliki Osman, assistant professor and former politician.
• 22 August – Chen Liping, actress.
• 10 October – Chen Xiuhuan, actress.
• 22 October – Ang Hin Kee, former PAP MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.
• 13 November – Yang Libing, actress.
• 30 November – Zainal Sapari, former PAP MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC.

Dates unknown

• Boey Kim Cheng, poet. ^[19]
• Elim Chew, founder of 77th Street. ^[20]
• Felix Cheong, poet. ^[21]
• Lily Kong, academic. ^[22]
• Haresh Sharma, resident playwright of The Necessary Stage. ^[23]
• Joash Moo, novelist, poet and illustrator. ^[24]

Deaths

• 16 February – Lee Chin Tian, Chinese community leader and businessman (b. 1874). ^[25]
• 11 October – George Lee Geok Eng, businessman and newspaper publisher (b. 1897). ^[26]

References

1. "Singapore's milestones in pictures". The Straits Times. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
2. Jackie Sam; Philip Khoo; Cheong Yip Seng; Abul Fazil; Roderick Pestana; Gabriel Lee (11 March 1965). "Terror Bomb kills 2 Girls at Bank" (reprint). The Straits Times . Retrieved 9 February 2011.
3. Ye, Lin-Sheng (2003). The Chinese Dilemma, p. 43. East West Publishing. ISBN   978-0-9751646-1-7.
4. "Malaysian Solidarity Convention is formed". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
5. "July 1965 Legislative Assembly By-election". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
6. "Road to Independence". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2006.
7. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs is established". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
8. "Singapore's first television station". NLB. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
9. "Former DPM Rajaratnam dies at age 90". Channel NewsAsia. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 23 February 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
10. "Section 2 – Making Friends Panel 3" (PDF). NAS. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
11. "Singapore Conference Hall". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
12. "Official Opening of the Underground Car Park and Public Garden at Raffles Place" (PDF). NAS. 27 November 1965. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
13. "First Parliament of the Republic of Singapore convenes". NLB. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
14. "Barisan MPs won't be there". The Straits Times. 8 December 1965. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
15. "Singapore Infomap – Independence". Ministry of Information,Communications and the Arts. Archived from the original on 13 July 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
16. "The Singapore Army is established". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
17. "People's Defence Force is established". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
18. "Eric Khoo". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
19. "Boey Kim Cheng". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
20. "Elim Chew". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
21. "Felix Cheong". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
22. "LILY KONG Singapore Women's Hall of Fame". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
23. "Haresh Sharma". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
24. "Joash Moo". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
25. "李振殿逝世 漳州總會李氏總會 組治喪會辦理喪儀". NewspaperSG . 17 February 1965. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
26. "Publisher George Lee dies, aged 69". NewspaperSG . 12 October 1965. Retrieved 9 July 2025.